Upshot-Knothole 1953 US Atomic Veterans Chester Ball Chester Ball was a member of the gun crew of Atomic Annie and contacted us about his experience at the Nevada test site. To: "Web Editor" pdxavets@aracnet.com Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 From:chieffire@yahoo.com Subject: 280MM (Annie) I was a member of 1st Gun Sec. Btry A 867th FA Bn (280MM Gun) from Ft. Sill that fired the Atomic Round, May 25, 1953. The 2 pictures on page 2 and 3 in the Upshot-Knothole section brought many memories of the month spent at Desert Rock camp. I later went to Germany with the Bn. I retired from the US Army after 22 years service as a 1st Sgt. Chester Ball Bells, Texas email: chieffire@yahoo.com Hi Keith I am sending an attachment of the 280 Gun limber on the east range at Ft. Sill. This picture was taken shortly after the 867th Bn was activated and we had just received our first gun. Later in March the Bn went to Camp Desert Rock for a month where we fired the TEST round. The gun was set in place on a hard black top pad and overlooked Frenchman Flats and we could see the impact area. Fired conventional rounds for several weeks prior to the test. We were all in trenches when the round was fired and after the blast we could stand up and see the fireball. One can see all the pictures, but until you see the blast itself, to truly see the destructive power of an atomic blast. A short bio of my duties: 1948 & 49 served in KMAG and 24th Corp. in Korea. Troops moved out of Korea in 1949 went to Japan and assigned to 25 Inf Div.Went back to Korea with the Division at start of Korean War. Returned to States and was discharged at end of 4 year tour. Reinlisted after a year and assigned to A Btry 867 FA Bn. at Ft. Sill. After Operation Upshot/Knothole the Bn returned to Ft. Sill. The Bn was sent to Germany were it remained until the unit was deactivated in the late 60's. I returned to Ft. Sill in 1955 and assigned to 534th FA BN which went to Germany in 1956. In 1960 assigned to the US Army Reserve in Tulsa, OK. as an Army Adviser. 1962 assigned to the 76th FA Bn in Bad Kissing, Germany. 1965 assigned to Texas National Guard in Paris, Texas as an Army Adviser.1967 Assigned to 25th Inf Div (again) in Vietnam. Wounded in 1968 during the TET action and returned to Brooks Army Hospital. Later assignes to Wyoming National Guard as an Army Adviser. Retired and returned to Bells, Texas in 1969. I would like to hear from any other members. Chester Ball Email: chieffire@yahoo.com [ Upshot-Knothole ] [ Home Page || What's New || Email || Family Mail Call || Notes and Hints ] [ Atomic Veterans, Atomic Test Series and Dates ] [Videos ] Information about the National Association of Atomic Veterans [ The NAAV Story || NAAV Medical Data Base Information ] Atomic Veterans History Project © 2007 For use of the material found on this web site, please send us an email with your request.